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People in contact with someone with coronavirus will now only have to isolate for 10 days.
This lunchtime the government has announced the change which applies to anyone currently self-isolating as a precaution after being in close contact with someone who tested positive.
This includes people have have returned to the UK from a country that's not on the safe-travel list and was agreed by all four nations.
This reduction already applies in Wales following an announcement by the Welsh Government earlier this week, while it will take effect in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland from Monday.
The new rules will apply to all those who are currently self-isolating, including those who began doing so before Monday.
A statement from the the four nation's health chiefs said: “Self-isolation is essential to reducing the spread of Covid as it breaks the chains of transmission.
“After reviewing the evidence, we are now confident that we can reduce the number of days that contacts self-isolate from 14 days to 10 days.
“People who return from countries which are not on the travel corridor list should also self-isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days.”
The joint statement was issued by England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, Scotland’s interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith, Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride and Wales’ chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton.
The announcement comes the day after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced scondary school children in parts of the county will be tested as the number of schools closing continues to rise.
It was revealed today there will be 12 mobile testing units at schools in Kent by the weekend.
Meanwhile, a mass testing project has begun in Medway over the last few weeks with Rochester Cathedral the latest to become a centre in a bid to stop people who are asymptomatic passing on coronavirus to others.
The first site in Kent will be on the Isle of Sheppey.
